The Official Gazette is the official journal of the Republic of the Philippines. Edited at the Office of the President of the Philippines Under Commonwealth Act No. 638

Proclamation No. 591, s. 2004

MALACAÑANG

MANILA

DECLARING THE MONTH OF MAY OF EVERY YEAR AS “ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPTION AWARENESS MONTH”

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State to maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption;

WHEREAS, graft and corruption, in any form and at whatever extent, have deleterious effects on the individual citizens of the nation and on the Philippine society, as a whole;

WHEREAS, the negative impact of corruption on the country’s socio-economic and political stability as well as its moral values as a people, has been greatly evident;

WHEREAS, it is necessary to develop an integrated society-wide anti-corruption plan to confront such systemic social evils;

WHEREAS, the collaborative dissemination of accurate information about graft and corruption, as well as measures for its prevention and prosecution are vital and indispensable in the effective fight against graft and corruption;

WHEREAS, there is a need to strengthen current collaborative efforts among the Office of the

Ombudsman, the other anti-graft bodies and civil society groups to introduce anti-corruption reforms in various agencies and to increase public awareness and support in promoting transparency and accountability in government;

WHEREAS, such public awareness may be heightened and expanded through a deliberate and concerted effort to hold regular annual anti-corruption campaigns and programs to coincide with the Ombudsman anniversary during the month of May every year;

WHEREAS, these concerns may be efficiently and effectively undertaken through the collective efforts of the various levels of the government and the informed citizenry at large.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, President of the Republice of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the month May of every year as the “Anti-Graft and Corruption Awareness Month” to be collectively observed nationwide by all government offices, agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations, through the conduct of relevant activities for the occasion under the auspices and direction of the Office of the Ombudsman.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 29th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Four.